GEO awards support innovative global learning and partnership program development
Contact: Nicol Tinsley
VCU Global Education Office
(804) 828-6463
nctinsley@vcu.edu
Richmond, VA (February 19, 2025) The Global Education Office (GEO) opens its series of awards set to fund outstanding program development throughout Virginia Commonwealth University. The Global Learning Program Development Awards and Global Partnership Impact Awards will launch this spring for funding during the 2025-2026 academic school year.
“These awards support faculty global engagement, which will increase research opportunities and international experiences for students,” said Jill Blondin, Ph.D., vice provost for global initiatives.
The Global Learning Program Development Awards are intended to fund proposals that will grant at least five awards of up to $5,000 for projects related to developing new global learning programs including education abroad, domestic study away with a global focus, or virtual exchange.
To diversify opportunities for students, two areas of priority are designated, calling for proposals in regions of strategic interest, specifically Portugal, Spain, Japan or South Korea; and programs in collaboration with El Centro at VCU.
Additionally, with support from the L & L Friendship Fund, a VCU faculty or staff with a proven track record of successfully developing and leading education abroad programs will have the opportunity to receive up to $20,000 to support programmatic costs for a new or existing faculty-led short-term program aimed at expanding access to education abroad in the new L & L Friendship Fund Global Access Grant.
"Faculty and staff engagement and innovation in program design is crucial to creating global learning experiences that broaden students' perspectives and open doors to their future careers,” said Stephanie Tignor, director of global learning. “The L & L Global Access Grant is an exciting new opportunity to expand access to impactful study abroad experiences for our students."
The Global Partnership Impact Awards focus on projects related to developing, strengthening, and broadening international partnership collaboration. Five awards up to $5,000 each will be granted to diversify VCU’s global engagement, and priority areas have been established to encourage collaboration in areas of strategic interest. Priority will be given to projects engaging in Mexico, India, Portugal, or Vietnam as well as projects with VCU’s strategic partners Anant National University (India) and the University of Córdoba (Spain).
The call for proposals for each award is now available and includes detailed descriptions and information about the awards. Successful applicants will work closely with staff in the Global Education Office for guidance and support of project development.
Two information sessions will be held to provide more information about the awards. Attendees will be able to speak with GEO staff to gain guidance, review project examples and field questions at each session.
The information sessions are scheduled as follows:
- The Global Learning Program Development Awards CFP Informational Webinar will be facilitated by Jill Blondin and Stephanie Tignor, held virtually on February 26, 2025, at 1 p.m. Interested attendees may register in advance to attend and can join the session via Zoom.
Review the Global Learning Program Development Awards call for proposals for detailed information. - The Global Partnership Impact Awards webinar, “Faculty Opportunities for Global Engagement” will be facilitated by Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Ph.D., GEO’s senior internationalization strategist, and Jill Blondin, held on March 18, 2025 at noon at the Global Education Office, 912 West Grace St., room 4133. Interested attendees may register in advance to attend.
Review the Global Partnership Impact Awards call for proposals for detailed information.
Completed proposals for both CFPs are due by Thursday, May 15, 2025 with awards announced by June 15, 2025. Funds should be used by June 30, 2026. The proposals must be submitted via the following online submission forms:
Global Partnership Impact Awards
Global Learning Program Development Awards
Questions regarding the Global Learning Program Development Awards CFP should be addressed to Dr. Jill Blondin at jblondin@vcu.edu, and Stephanie Tignor at davenportse@vcu.edu.
Questions regarding the Global Partnership Impact Awards CFP should be addressed to Dr. Jill Blondin at jblondin@vcu.edu, and Marci Fradkin at fradkinm@vcu.edu.
For more information, contact the Global Education Office at geo@vcu.edu.